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November 21, 2005

SAfrica’s ANC says Zuma confirms rape allegations

by Sam Savage

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's former deputy
president, Jacob Zuma, has confirmed that he is facing rape
allegations, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on
Monday.

Zuma has denied allegations in newspapers just over a week
ago that he sexually assaulted a female guest at his
Johannesburg home. Police have refused to confirm whether they
are investigating such allegations.

"The deputy president did indeed tell us that these
allegations of rape against him are real as published in the
newspapers," ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe said after
an annual meeting of the party's National Executive Committee.

President Thabo Mbeki and Zuma were both present at the
meeting, which began on November 18 and focused on differences
between the two leaders. ANC officials said that Zuma himself
volunteered to discuss the allegations.

"He said (the allegations) happened as covered by the
media. That is why he had to issue a statement through his
lawyer denying involvement in the rape," Motlanthe told
reporters in reply to a question.

Zuma was fired as national deputy president in June after
his former financial adviser was convicted of corruption and
fraud, but remains deputy president of the ANC.